Trump says Russia-Ukraine peace deal ‘very close’, urges high-level talks | World News

US President Donald Trump has claimed that Russia and Ukraine are “very close to a deal” to end the three-year war, urging both sides to meet “at very high levels” to finalise the agreement. His comments came shortly after his envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Friday.
“They are very close to a deal, and the two sides should now meet, at very high levels, to ‘finish it off’,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, calling it a “good day” in negotiations with Russia and Ukraine.
He also wrote:
Most of the major points are agreed to. Stop the bloodshed, NOW. We will be wherever is necessary to help facilitate the END to this cruel and senseless war!

Kremlin calls talks ‘constructive’
The Kremlin described the meeting between Putin and Witkoff as “constructive”, with Putin aide Yuri Ushakov stating the three-hour discussion was “useful”. According to Ushakov, the dialogue brought Russian and US positions “closer together, not just on Ukraine but also on a range of other international issues,” reported BBC.
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This marks Witkoff’s fourth visit to Russia this year and his second meeting with Putin in April alone.
No Ukrainian presence in Moscow talks
Despite the momentum suggested the US, Ukraine was not invited to participate in the talks. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stressed that “real pressure on Russia is needed” to reach a ceasefire.
Zelenskyy was quoted saying the BBC earlier that Kyiv is willing to discuss territorial issues “if a full and unconditional ceasefire” is agreed. However, he firmly rejected ceding territory without public consent: “Our position is unchanged – only the Ukrainian people have the right to decide which territories are Ukrainian.”
Dispute over Crimea
Territorial concessions remain a major sticking point. Trump told Time magazine, “Crimea will stay with Russia,” referencing the 2014 annexation. He added, as per AP: “Zelenskyy understands that… it’s been with them long before Trump came along.”Story continues below this ad
Zelenskyy responded: “What President Trump says is true… we do not have enough weapons to return control over the Crimean peninsula,” but added that recognition of occupied territory is still a red line.
According to Reuters, a US peace plan proposes allowing Russia to keep the land it has gained, including Crimea and all of Luhansk, in exchange for a ceasefire. It also rules out Ukraine’s future NATO membership. European and Ukrainian counter-proposals reportedly ins on discussing territory only after a ceasefire is achieved.

Russian strikes continue
Despite ongoing diplomacy, Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities have continued. On Friday, a drone strike on an apartment building in Pavlohrad killed three civilians and injured 10 others, including a child and a 76-year-old woman, as per AP reports of local officials.
A day earlier, a missile and drone attack on Kyiv left 12 people dead and 87 injured. Zelenskyy blamed North Korea and US-made components for enabling the attack.
(With inputs from AP and BBC)
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